In 1955 Sir Christopher Cockerell patented the prototype of his hovercraft (British patent number 854211)*. As a curious coincidence in relation to the above story, Cockerell worked for many years for Marconi as a radio engineer.

*(As a random fact, the US patent for 854211 is for the folding hood to a pram (buggy)).

Trekkies, that didn’t already know, might like to bookmark this day as, back in 1964, shooting started for the Star Trek pilot, "The Cage" (Menagerie)

The US’s copyright law was amended in 1980 to include computer programs

Trending at this moment:

#censoredUK
Not even going to follow this trend on Twitter as some of the posts that burned my eyeballs just go to show why we do in fact need more censorship at the ISP and browser level!

The real story is however WHAT gets censored that shouldn’t – like covering up the shame, illegal activities and tricks of corporates, politicians, stars, celebrities and generally anyone with enough money, power and/or connections to silence the media and block the Internet. It’s a dark, murky path when you head down that road.

Or using loopholes they ‘accidentally’ leave in Internet laws allowing for covert spying on anyone they deem a target, however tenuous the link. The (misuse) of powers by police and Councils in the UK being a point in case. We are screwed anyway really. Can you really trust a government with dirty or shameful, self-interested secrets to hide to make censorship laws we – the public – can trust?